1899] DADDY LONGLEGS. 27 



Of these Tipulce, and their near allies the Fachyrldna, there are 

 more than forty species to be found in this country ; but of these there 

 appear to be only three kinds of which the larvie or maggots are looked 

 on as year by year doing serious mischief as root pests. These are, 

 respectively, the "Cabbage Daddy Longlegs" (Jt/t?<Zrt oleracea); the 

 "Marsh Daddy Longlegs" {Tijndd jmludosa), which is stated by Curtis 

 to be so closely allied to the foregoing species that it is generally con- 

 founded with it, and is similar to it in habits and economy ; and, 

 thirdly, the "Spotted" or "Yellow" Daddy Longlegs {TipuJa [Pachy- 

 rhina) maculosa), a much smaller kind, but also very mischievous. 



With regard to the habits and means of prevention of the so-called 

 Daddy Longlegs attacks, it appears as if everything had been recorded 

 that could be needed for general service ; "■'' but I insert some further 

 observations on the infestation, as in the past season I received some 

 special contributions which enabled me to identify 'T. oleracea as domg 

 much mischief in dry parts of hill pasture in North Britain, and the 

 smaller kind, the spotted Tipula maculosa, as injurious in Strawberry 

 beds ; and also received some few additional remarks on remedial 

 treatment. 



The ashy or greyish general appearance of the Cabbage Tipula is 

 well known; and the marsh kind, T. paludosa, for all practical pur- 

 poses, may be described as very similar to it, excepting in the matter 

 of the wings as well as the legs of the female being shorter in this 

 species than in T. oleracea. The spotted kind, 2\ maculosa, is much 

 smaller, the wings being only about an inch in expanse (whereas those of 

 oleracea are from an inch and a half to two inches), and the colour is 

 yellow spotted with black ; the wings are yellowish, with yellow fore 

 edge ; and the long slender legs ochreous, with feet and tips of thighs 

 and shanks black. 



The only means, however, of knowing which kind it is of the 

 above-mentioned species which is causing mischief is by examination of 

 the maggots, and it is so very rarely that observations of attack on a 

 large scale, with specimens accompanying, are available, that I give 

 notes of mention of reports sent of presence of T. oleracea at grass 

 roots of dry hill pastures, and of T. maculosa at Strawberry roots, as 

 well as of both the above-mentioned species, also at Strawberry roots. t 



* Vide references in General Index to preceding Series of Annual Reports, from 

 1877 to 18'J8 inclusive, by K. Newstead, F.E.S., with Preface by writer. Sinipkin & 

 Co., Stationer's Hall Court, E.C. Price Is. 6d. 



t I have continued use of the •popular name of " Daddy Longlegs " for the flies, 

 as, though certainly very trivial, it is better known generally than that of " Crane 

 Fly." 



Tipula maculosa is now known scientifically as Pachi/rhina maculosa. The 

 genus Pachyrhina is not very strictly limited; but the rust-yellow and sulphur 

 yellow flies of this genus are distinguishable from the rust-yellow flies of the genus 



